Kenji reclined in the comfy leather chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest as he scrutinized the old man across from him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, almost suffocating as they locked eyes. The old man's proposition lingered between them like an unpleasant odor, and Kenji had no intention of making this easy.“So, let me get this straight,” Kenji started, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You want me to say that Ethan had nothing to do with human trafficking? That all the photos, the evidence, the gossip—everything—is just one big misunderstanding? And for this little favor, you’re offering me five million bucks?” He laughed derisively, shaking his head. “You must think I’m either desperate or completely clueless.”The old man’s face remained impassive. He was a veteran in these kinds of negotiations, but Kenji noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes and the barely perceptible tightening of his jaw. Kenji was getting under his skin, and that gave him a bit of sa
It had been a week since the unsettling events on the yacht, and the heavy silence that followed felt almost suffocating. Ethan Anderson was now back in the comfort of his home, grappling with the fallout from those two tragic deaths. The yacht, which once represented luxury and power, had turned into a haunting reminder of the threats that surrounded him. Although the quiet from everyone involved was somewhat comforting, Ethan knew it wouldn’t last long.The secrecy pact made by those on the yacht was only a temporary fix, driven by their fear of what Ethan might do if their roles were revealed. But he was sure the others—Geralt, Lockwood, Walton, and Rhodes—wouldn’t stay silent forever. Their quietness was probably just the calm before a storm, as they would likely look for ways to turn the situation to their advantage.Ethan was caught in a storm of frustration and determination. He had to uncover the truth behind everything, and his first step was to track down the mysterious “tre
Denera was sipping a cold beer in a quiet area of the bar. With a look of anger on her face, she stared at her phone. She had previously requested a meeting with Jason via message, but he had not responded. In an effort to detach herself from the constant worry about him, she took a sizable sip. Her brain continued to float back to Jason, and the more she paused, the more unsettled she became. The stall was faintly lit, projecting a delicate gleam over her as she tasted her beverage. A figure suddenly walked up to her and entered the booth across from her. The newcomer leaned in and whispered something to Denera, attracting her attention. “Ethan is throwing the party at his house with the press. Did you not know?Denera’s eyes widened in shock. She nearly choked on her beer, her mind racing. “What?!” she exclaimed, louder than she intended. The noise from the bar seemed to swallow her words, but her panic was clearShe quickly pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen a
Sandra sat at her kitchen table, the morning light barely touching her tired eyes. Her coffee was almost gone, cold and bitter, a sign of her sleepless nights. She stared into the cup, her mind full of worry and exhaustion.The maid, a young woman with a gentle touch, quietly entered the room. She looked at Sandra with concern. “Good morning, Mrs. Sandra. You look like you haven’t slept well. Is everything okay?”Sandra sighed heavily, shaking her head as she took another sip of coffee. “It’s been one of those nights. Not work or anything, just... stalking emails, calls, letters. It’s been constant.”The maid’s eyes widened. “Stalking? That sounds awful. Do you know who’s doing it?”Sandra shook her head. “No, not yet. I’ve been trying to trace the emails and calls, but they’re coming from different places. Did you find out anything?”The maid hesitated before speaking. “I found a name that keeps coming up—Jackson. His background is pretty unclear. I couldn’t find much on him, but he
Ethan stood in the grand foyer of his home, greeting guests as they arrived. His smile was polite, his handshake firm, but his mind was elsewhere. The elegant surroundings of the house, filled with chatter and laughter, couldn’t distract him from the growing worry he felt. He glanced at the door every few minutes, waiting.Finally, Sandra arrived. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room quickly. Ethan noticed the tension in her shoulders and the way she held her bag close, as if ready to run at any moment. He immediately excused himself from the group he was talking to and walked over to her.“Sandra,” he said warmly, his voice low so only she could hear, “I’m glad you’re here. Come with me.”Sandra nodded, her face pale but determined. Ethan placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd. They moved swiftly, avoiding the eyes of curious guests, until they reached a narrow hallway at the back of the house. Ethan opened a door that led outside, into a secl
The room was buzzing with the sound of glasses clinking and soft, classy laughs. The golden chandeliers lit up everything, making the room look fancy and cozy, with long shadows playing on the velvet curtains hanging on the walls. The stylish lady was lounging on a fancy chair, her black dress hugging her perfectly, her hair styled just right, and her eyes shining with the joy of pulling off a plan.Not too far away, the strong guy with the cane was leaning back in a leather chair, his cane leaning against his knee. The carved tree on his chair looked like it was coming to life in the candlelight, its roots and branches twisting and turning, as if they were hiding secrets. He was swirling his brandy around in his glass, looking pretty pleased with himself."They never saw it coming," she said, taking a slow sip from her glass. "The Houses are in chaos, just like we wanted. By the time they figure it out, it'll be too late."He grunted in agreement, his eyes deep in thought. "They're a
The room was dead quiet now, everyone and everything had left, and everything was neat and tidy. The vibe of the night was intense, heavy with tension. Ethan was leaning back against his desk, his brain still spinning from the craziness of the past few hours. The truth had been revealed, and now the real battle was about to start. He knew that.A quiet noise from the hallway caught his ear. He turned just in time to see Sandra peeking out from one of the rooms, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear. She looked out of place, like she didn't belong in his fancy house, and it tugged at something deep inside him."Sandra," he called out gently, moving forward.Her eyes locked with his, and for a bit, she seemed unsure. But then she fully stepped out, showing her messy state—her hair a bit undone, clothes wrinkled, and a slight shake in her hands. Ethan's eyes softened as he noticed all the little things that were off about her. The fear she was trying to hide was clear on her face.Wi
Ethan sighed deeply, the weight of the story heavy on his shoulders. “It’s a long story, but it’s crucial for you to understand what’s happening. The leader of this house and his wife were involved in some very shady activities. They had plans that involved bringing both our families—my parents and your parents—into their schemes.”Sandra’s eyes widened further. “Our parents? Why would they want them involved?”Ethan’s face grew more serious. “My parents refused to join their plans. They were genuinely opposed to what the House of the Tree Symbol was doing. They even told your parents they couldn’t be part of it.”Sandra’s brow furrowed. “But you said my parents were involved. How is that possible?”Ethan nodded slowly. “That’s right. While my parents were adamant about not participating, your parents were already on board with the House of the Tree Symbol’s plans. They pretended to side with my parents, all the while playing a double game.”Sandra’s expression shifted to one of confu